Re: DISCUSSION: define the role of a liaison

[Geoff Huston <gih@telstra.net>]

At 3/15/2002 02:22 AM, Brian E Carpenter wrote:
> The problem that needs fixing is that it is not stated that
>
>   The liaisons' roles are limited to communication between the NomCom
>   and the body each liaison represents.
>
> because we have evidence of liaisons taking an active part in the
> process and that ain't right IMHO.
>
>    Brian

In my experience as a liaison and as a past chair, liaison members of the 
Nomcom have been used in two roles. They have been a conduit for 
communication between the NomCom and the body they liaise with, but they 
have also been considered as working members of the committee, and have 
undertaken interviews, and participated in committee discussions as a peer 
member. The limitation is they do not participate in gathering the sense of 
the committee, either informally or formally as in a vote.

The statement above is more restrictive than the practice I observed in the 
past, and the consideration of the appropriateness of that practice is 
certainly a reasonable one.

A view formed from my experience is that this practice has been helpful in 
allowing the committee to use all the committee's resources to gather input 
and context for their work, but there is a certain level of discretion 
placed on the role of the committee chair to distinguish between a liaison 
position participating in the gathering of input and context and the 
position exercising undue influence on the committee's formal consideration 
of nominated candidates.

regards,

  Geoff